County looks at allowing longer revivals

Tuesday

Feb 12, 2013 at 3:00 AM

By Nathaniel AxtellTimes-News Staff Writer

The length of time churches can hold tent revivals and other large outdoor services would be expanded under a proposed code change that county commissioners will take up Feb. 20. At the request of several local pastors, the Henderson County Planning Board voted 4-2 last month to recommend that commissioners change the length of time allowed for such services under a temporary use permit from 8 days to 12 weeks.Currently, the county's land development code reads, “temporary circuses, fairs, religious services and similar types of events may be operated for no longer than eight days.”Under the amended rule supported by the planning board, circuses, fairs and carnivals will still be limited to eight days, but religious services such as tent revivals could “operate for up to 12 weeks.”Interim Planning Director Autumn Radcliff said a group of pastors approached the county, concerned that the code didn't allow temporary use permits to remain valid long enough for some services. The pastors said some revivals and Bible camps can last up to nine weeks.After discussing their concerns, planning staff and pastors agreed to the 12-week period. Radcliff said the longest known revival held in Henderson County, back in the 1990s in Fletcher, went nine weeks. “Most of them probably won't go more than three weeks,” said Radcliff. “It would only be those extreme instances when it could go nine weeks or more.”While universally supportive of revivals, some planning board members questioned the proposed change. The two dissenting votes, Marilyn Gordon and Steve Dozier, worried that allowing large religious events in residential areas for up to 12 weeks might create conflicts.“We certainly have had concerns in the past from neighborhoods about similar impacts from other (outdoor) events,” Gordon said, citing traffic congestion and noise. “We should follow the same principles with any temporary event.”Particularly since the code allows two temporary use permits within a 12-month period, Dozier said the proposed time extension was too liberal.“I'm mainly concerned about residential (zonings), not commercial,” he said. “There are empty lots, where if they've got an extension, they could be sitting there for nearly half a year. I like a good revival as much as the next person, but 12 weeks just seemed excessive.”When held in residentially zoned areas or within 500 feet of them, the county's code dictates that all temporary events such as fairs and revivals operate only from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and must be further than 50 feet from nearby dwellings.Other planning board members expressed concern about the county infringing on the rights of religious groups to operate freely. That sentiment was echoed by Dr. Sandy Beck III, director of missions at the Carolina Baptist Association on Hebron Road, when asked about the proposed code change.“I think it's none of the county's business how long a religious group wants to hold meetings,” Beck said, adding that churches should be allowed to hold revivals “year-round, if they need it.”Asked to weigh in on the matter, Deputy County Attorney Sarah Zambon advised the planning board that temporary use permits for revivals don't violate the First Amendment's protection of religious freedoms.“There are instances where there are laws applied to religious institutions,” Zambon explained Monday. “We can't single them out, but they have to play by the same rules as everyone else. For instance, churches have to meet the same building codes as other structures, to protect the public's safety.”Zambon said the change suggested by pastors is a good example of why the county's land development code was designed to be an evolving document.“We keep trying to improve it as we get new information,” she said. “We heard from the pastors the timeframe we have in there won't work, so we've modified it to suit the actual timeframe of their services.”Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the proposed code amendment at 9 a.m. Feb. 20 on the second floor of the Historic Courthouse. Reach Axtell at 828-694-7860 or than.axtell@blueridgenow.com.